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Foods We Love: Apricots

Apricots, those small, plush little fruits that come in the prettiest shade of soft orange, belong to the Rosaceae family, which includes pears, apples, and plums. They debuted around 3000 B.C. on the Russian-Chinese border, and were brought into Europe along with peach seed, via the Silk Road . Apricots are believed to have made their appearance in the United States in the 1700s, thanks to the Spanish explorers who introduced the fruit to California. Apricot growth in California became so popular that a 1910 Census revealed 96.4% of all U.S. apricot growth took place in that state.

Apricots are rich in Vitamin A, providing 65% of the recommended daily allowance per cup. This vitamin is essential to the retina of the eye for both low-light and color vision.